Learn to Love What They Love

The best parenting advice I have ever heard is to learn to love what they love. Learning to love what they love creates a bond that can withstand the teenage years.

Life Unedited #41

Learn to Love What They Love

I Hate Video Games

Let me start off by saying I HATE video games. In my mind, there is not a single good thing about them. I feel like it is a mind-numbing electronic device to suck all your time and kill a few brain cells in the process.

However, with that being said, my kids LOVE video games!

Now, my kids know my hatred for video games. In fact, my hatred is so bad that I am the mean mom that sets gaming limits so they don’t lose too many brain cells and waste too much time.

With that being said, I still buy them video games and allow them to earn money by doing chores around the house so they can buy them as well. At the store, while they are picking out the newest game they have so much joy on their face! How can I be mad at that point, right?

My kids know I HATE video games, but it never fails all the time they say, “Mom, wanna play video games with us?”

I have two options at this point.

Bicker with them about how much video games are a waste of time

Or

Join in and play with them

What do you think I do?

Well, grudgingly, but with a happy face I sit down and play with them. But at that moment I don’t hate them so much. Because I am spending time with my kids. We are doing something that they absolutely love. I am connecting with my kids. We are sharing precious time. It’s time that we won’t have when they get bigger. I have learned to love what they love!

As Moms Learn to Love What They Love

The best parenting advice I have ever heard is to love what they love. When we have babies it is easy to connect with them. They are cute and little and want to be held all the time. But, then something happens. They begin to grow and change. And as this happens it is harder to connect with them like we once did as moms.

So as moms and dads we need to learn to love what they love.

If your kids love video games play them with them. Find time to sit and watch their favorite show on TV with them. Take them to the horrible movie they really want to see. Listen to the horrible music on the radio with them. Go outside and practice their favorite sport.

You don’t always have to do the things they love and you hate. But as you learn to love what they love you will connect with your kids on a whole new level! Your kids will know that you love them because you play Forte Night with them even though you hate it. Or practice soccer even though you pee as you run (thanks to all those babes you have birthed over the years!) Your connection with them will get stronger. They will be more open with you and communicate more!

These moments spent with them are precious. There will be a time when they don’t want you around. But as we consistently spend time with them doing the things they love we will continually stay close to them even though their tween and teenage years.

Michele is a Family Life Educator. She is a mom to 5 kids and loves helping others strengthen their families! When she is not blogging she is spending time with her family and running around drinking Diet Coke trying to get everything done!

One thought on “Learn to Love What They Love”

I love this post! It is so important to do what they love. I hate phone games, but I played Pokemon Go with my step son so we could all go outside and get exercise and so he’d have fun. I personally love video games, so my problem is sharing screen time 🙂